chapter 56

Zara began walking towards Veronica’s place and put on headphones in her ears, playing her favorite songs. As she hummed to the songs, she felt herself slip on the snow. She steadied herself and began walking carefully. Darkness was beginning to seep through the skies, and her hoodie was doing a dismal job of protecting her from the cold. She flicked on her mobile torch and began treading again and felt as if someone pulled her leg. She frantically turned around and waved her torchlight everywhere, but there was no one in the vicinity. She convinced herself that she had imagined it when a sharp pull at her leg made her fall down on the snow.

Afraid, she shouted, “Who’s there?” She gathered her stuff and dusted the snowflakes off her clothes and jeans when she heard a faint sound of laughter. She again called out, “This isn’t funny; whoever you are, just stop it.”

She was afraid and took out the pepper spray her mother had placed in her bag for emergencies just like this though she had hoped she would never be required to use it.

A frail-looking boy stepped out from the shadows of the trees and said, “Is he gone?”

Zara eyed the boy before asking, “I guess so. Are you okay?”

The boy continued in the same panicked voice, “Yes…yes, I’m okay. But, I think I was imagining things. That guy flew right at you but…but I struck him. Though, I think he hit me here.” He pointed to his hand that was bruised and scratched.

Zara went over to the boy and surveyed his wound, “It’s nothing. I’ll help you get it cleaned” She began rummaging her bag for some cash to get medical supplies from the drug store when she heard the same laughter. She looked up to see the same boy laughing and immediately let go of his hand.

The boy wickedly said, “So naïve, aren’t you? Always failing to see the bigger picture,” as he grabbed her hand and drew her nearer to him. He had a strong grip for someone who looked he was about to pass out. He inhaled her scent and made a rasping sound. “You smell delicious, and the scent goes straight to my head.”

Zara kicked and screamed, but his grip stayed the same. “Who are you, and what do you want?” The boy laughed and whispered in her ear, “I am your long lost love, darling, and I only want you.” Zara shivered with fear and tried to keep him engaged in talk as she inched her fingers towards the pepper spray that was dug beneath her books.

She managed to say, “I…I don’t even know your name. You need to give a proper introduction.”

The boy smiled as he said, “I already introduced myself, darling. As for my name, you can call me anything you want, darling, husband…”

Zara closed her fingers around the spray bottle and sprayed it in the air while closing her eyes. The boy got some in his eyes and let go of her as she awkwardly fell to the ground. She hurried to get up and began running when the boy snarled, “I tried to go easy on you, but you leave me no choice.” The boy rose up in the air and began transforming into a hideous beast as wings protruded from his back. His teeth were replaced by a jagged line of zigzagging pincers, and his eyes turned a sickly yellow. The beast’s skin had no hair, and he looked like Zara’s worst nightmare had come true.

He howled menacingly and flew down at her with the speed of a jet, and Zara ducked, covering her head with her hands, trembling with fear. She heard a scream and didn’t have the courage to open her eyes when she heard a familiar voice call out her name, “Zara, Z, get up. It’s me.”

Zara opened her eyes to see Ryan looking at her with concern, “Are you alright?” Relief washed over her as she saw his face and ran into his arms. She was shivering more with fear than due to the cold, and Ryan pulled her in a tighter embrace, making him fall to the ground with Zara on top of him.

He moved his hands over her back, caressing her, “It’s okay, there’s no need to worry” His touch soothed her troubled mind, and she began to relax. As she raised her head, she realized they were lying in the middle of the road. She hastily got up and looked around, “Did you…did you see that thing?”

He got up and ran a finger across her cheek, “There was nothing, Z, you are imagining things.”

Zara grew impatient, “No, there was a boy…he said he was hurt…but then I went near him, and he transformed into a monster.”

Ryan put his hands on her shoulders, “Look around, Z. Where is this monster you saw?”

Zara looked around, and indeed there was no one except the two of them on a lonely road. “But…but he was here. I saw…”

Ryan took out his jacket and wrapped it around her, “Here, this will make you feel better. What are you doing here? As far as I know, this road doesn’t lead to your home.”

“I…I was walking to Veronica’s place.”

“Okay, I will walk with you.”

Zara didn’t want to be an inconvenience to him, but she was afraid of walking alone after what had just happened.  They began walking, and Zara pulled the jacket around her as her teeth continued to chatter.